Level of acceptance among Public Institution of Higher Learning towards the Institution of Malay Rulers according to Federal Constitution of Malaysia

Abstract

This study aims to determine the knowledge, understanding and acceptance among students from Public Institution of Higher Learning (PIHL) towards the institution of the Malay Rulers according to Federal Constitution in the context of ethnic relations in Malaysia. This study involved 422 respondents selected from four PIHLs. Data were collected through questionnaires which were then analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, cross tabulation and correlation coefficient statistics were employed to explain respondents’ backgrounds and to assess students’ knowledge, understanding and level of acceptance towards provisions of the institution of the Malay Rulers inscribed in Federal Constitution. Results from this study have shown that students’ knowledge, understanding and level of acceptance towards provisions of the institution of Malay Rulers inscribed in Federal Constitution is generally high. Demographically, there was no significant difference in terms of their knowledge, understanding and level of acceptance except for the Chinese students. For Malay and Indian students, level of knowledge, understanding and acceptance exceed 75% compared to Chinese students which recorded below 60%. Based on results obtained in this study, several recommendations were made to address issues related to provisions of the institution of Malay Rulers. Next, this study contributes to the field of knowledge due to its quantitative method, which is different from previous studies conducted which was of qualitative nature as well as able to produce a questionnaire instrument for further study.